The Monster of Yuuei

by Glow in the Rain

The monsters were called Nomu: mindless, terrible creatures that instilled fear in the Kingdom of Yuuei. But one monster always showed up in a whirlwind of smoke and black tendrils, tearing the Nomu apart. The Monster of Yuuei, they called it. It doesn't take long before a witch, the Captain of the Guard, and the Crowned Prince realize there's more to this monster than it seems.

14. A Conjuration of Feelings

AN: Ugh, I had to rewrite some of these scenes like a half dozen times. Enjoy the fluff!

XX

Ochako hummed softly as she moved around the kitchen preparing dinner. Izuku had returned not too long ago, covered in dirt and sweat, with the sprites giggling and clinging to each of his arms. He looked exhausted, but there was a tender smile on his face as the tiny bundles of magic argued over who would be the one to help him wash his hair.

When it seemed they could not reach a conclusion, Izuku gently offered that they could take turns. It appeared that hadn't been something they considered, judging by their faces.

And so, as Ochako cut vegetables and prepared the mushrooms, she smiled as she listened to the elementals' shrieks of laughter floating in from the veranda. Honestly, any distraction from the worry she had for the state of things just outside of her hidden home was welcome. Admitting to Eijiro yesterday that she was terrified was no understatement, but she was doing everything in her power to keep it from spiraling inside her. So these little, tender moments were a lifeline, one of the few welcomed distractions as of late.

After a few moments of tiny giggles, there was a splash of water, followed by Izuku's soft protests. Toru then took off into the woods giggling with Mina sputtering and following after her indignantly, soap bubbles popping behind them.

…It was probably for the best, because Ochako sincerely doubted the two were actually helping Izuku get clean.

She didn't immediately turn around when she heard him step back into the cottage a short while later, busy with chopping up some wild parsley to add into the pan. Feeling his presence by the hearth, she looked over to see him hanging his laundry up to dry. He must have washed his clothes while he bathed, probably using magic to multi-task. However, more interesting in the moment was that he was only wearing a clean pair of linen trousers, and as he stretched to hang up the clothes, her eyes followed the movements of his muscles flexing.

She had seen him in various states of undress several times before, but something this time made her stop. Perhaps it was the shadows being cast by the fire, or maybe the way a couple of droplets of water ran down his skin, shaken loose from the wet curls clinging to his face. Perhaps it was because he wasn't half dead or covered in bandages this time around. Whatever it was, she found herself admiring how he looked, and when she realized it a moment later, she felt heat rush to her face as she quickly looked back at her parsley.

This morning, as Izuku had spoken of her love for sunflowers, she realized the feelings she had for him had been changing. The desire to see him happy and safe, to protect him and guide him, was evolving. She no longer looked at him as someone who needed saving or as a lost young man desperate for help. She saw him as the person he was underneath everything that had been thrown at him. To her, it did not matter he was the holder of Requiem. To her, it mattered that he was Izuku, the kind and determined young man who desired to do the right thing. Izuku, the shy, but gentle soul, who strived to keep her safe, and not just because she was an Echo. Izuku, who watched her when he thought she wasn't looking, his expression always a mixture of fond curiosity and innocent adoration. Izuku, who wanted to give her sunflowers, and only sunflowers, because he understood what they meant to her.

Izuku, the man she was falling for.

She shook her head slightly, staring down at the partially chopped greens on her cutting board. What had started as a point of realization this morning had snowballed throughout the day the more she thought about it. She couldn't even say it was accidental, because thinking about it allowed her to not think about other, scarier things. Still, part of her was flustered, because never in her life had she felt like this for someone. It was new and daunting, but also exciting. However, there also came guilt. She couldn't shake the idea that part of Izuku's attachment to her was because he'd had no choice. She had taken him in when he was gravely injured and most vulnerable, so naturally he would latch onto her.

That worry had grown along with her realization of her own attraction, and the two existed in the same space. Yes, she was attracted to the man living in her home. And yes, she was terrified of doing anything with it, because she couldn't guarantee she wasn't taking advantage of him.

The thought was sobering; however, Izuku exhaling loudly drew her attention back towards him. He had finished hanging up his clothes and was rubbing his healing arm. She frowned, putting down her knife. "How is the pain?"

He pursed his lips, considering her question as he rolled his shoulder, hand pressed to the bicep. "It still hurts to lift it over my head, but most of the other motions seem okay."

"Have you been favoring it when you train?"

He nodded, looking over at her. "I use magic to support it like a sling. It helps me remember to not use it as much."

She smiled softly. "Good. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself. You need to be in the best shape you can be for tomorrow, after all. You have a very important person to see."

To her surprise, he didn't smile back, his expression becoming concerned, if not agitated. His eyes dropped to the hearth, and he stared at it quietly. Not knowing what exactly had upset him, Ochako wiped her hands on her apron and walked up to him. "What is it?"

"I…" He hesitated, teeth plucking at his bottom lip. "Do you think my mom will accept me? Knowing how much of me has changed? I'm…well, look at me." He swallowed nervously, looking down at his hands. "Even if I hide my magic, I can't– I can't hide that my eyes are glowing or… that I have all these scars. She's going to know I'm not…" He paused, before trying again. "She'll see that I'm different. …And I'm kinda scared."

Ochako sighed, stepping up and taking his hands into hers. He swallowed, eyes falling to their fingers as he curled his over hers. "Izuku, I think you're fixating on the handful of things that have changed, but ignoring all the things that are still the same. I saw what you looked like when I visited your core. You still had the same freckles and curly hair. You have the same smile and mannerisms. Your mother is going to see those things and know that her son is alive. She's going to look at you and see a very brave, strong boy who survived so much, and she's going to be so proud of you."

He swallowed again, and when he looked up at her, she saw the tears forming in his eyes. "T-thank you…" His voice was barely a whisper, but she could still feel the sincerity.

She smiled warmly at him, squeezing his hands. "Tomorrow is going to be a good day. And you deserve it, okay?"

He nodded, teeth worrying on his lip again as he looked at her. "Can I…" He hesitated, trailing off. Ochako smiled patiently, waiting for him to find the courage to say what he wanted to say. Finally, he shook his head, letting go of her hands. "Um. Can I help with dinner?"

"Maybe," Ochako replied carefully, watching him with a slight smile. "But that's not what you wanted to ask, was it?"

He blushed softly, fidgeting. "I was going to ask for a hug."

She loved the way his eyes lit up as she stepped in and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him close. And when his own arms pulled her against his chest, she realized as her cheek hit the warm, bare skin of his shoulder that hugging him while he was shirtless had been a really terrible idea.

XX

Shouto discovered that it was very difficult to read books after spending several minutes making out with the man he'd been pining for since he was a teenager. He sat at his desk, the lantern glowing warmly in the room, and he realized he had been on the same page of the Empty Book for the last six minutes. He blinked, staring down at the newly returned ink, realizing that instead of absorbing the information about Cores, he was recounting the way Katsuki's lips had felt against his own and how the heavy drag of the captain's fingers could be felt through his clothes, and just how it had taken every bit of willpower both of them had to stop before things got too intimate.

Neither of them had wanted to stop, but both knew the palace was not the place for exploring, and acting on, years of pent up emotions.

They had only ever kissed once, as teenagers in the academy, clumsy and awkward, and ever since then, that memory had lived in Shouto's mind, crystal clear and keeping him company at night. Now, he had a new one, a better one in many ways, and he was happy to recount it over and over as it made his skin tingle and his stomach tighten.

He sighed, realizing he was not going to get anywhere with reading anymore tonight. Closing the book, he picked it up and placed it under his bed, in a spot the maidservants wouldn't find, and decided to try to sleep.

Or at least, stare at the ceiling and wish desperately he was not alone in his bed tonight.

With a snap of his fingers, the lantern went out, plunging the room into darkness. He sighed, allowing that darkness to be a theater for his mind to replay how Katsuki's mouth tasted.

XX

Morning came with sunny skies and a night void of bad dreams. Izuku stirred as he felt Dragon walk across his chest, smiling slightly as the cat began to lick his face, urging him awake. He shied away from the rough tongue on his cheek, but eventually mumbled something unintelligible and opened his eyes. Golden eyes stared back at him and Izuku wiggled an arm free to pet the familiar between the ears.

He blinked when he realized that besides the cats, he was alone in the cottage. His clothes that had been drying by the hearth were now neatly folded on the firewood stack beside his bed, and on the table was a plate of food and what looked to be a letter. Curiosity grabbed at him, so he quickly scrambled out of bed, making Dragon meow indignantly as he hopped away.

Unfolding the paper, Izuku's eyes skimmed over the contents written in neat prose:

Izuku,

Once you eat, dress in your training clothes and come find me.

-Ochako

He pondered the instructions as he sat down at the table and began to eat, wondering what she had planned. They had hours before they needed to leave, so maybe Ochako wanted him to practice more while he had time? Was she going to help?

Whatever it was, he didn't want to keep her waiting, so he hurried to eat his food, traded out his robe for a shirt and trousers, then stepped outside. It occurred to him then that she had purposely avoided telling him where she was. And then, he realized… Maybe she was testing him. With a purposeful blink, he looked around, and his lips pulled into a smile as he spotted her core some distance away, where the forest met the lake. He could also see the cores of Tsuyu, Mina, and Toru with her.

Knowing his destination, he took off, electing to cover the distance in an augmented sprint, rather than rely on his other magics. The short workout allowed him to fully wake up, stretch his muscles, and burn off some of the excitement he felt in knowing today was the day.

When the lake's edge came into view, he took a running leap, crossing the last bit of distance and landing on one of the many large rocks jutting out into the water. It didn't take him long to see Ochako, and he smiled, quickly crossing the distance, hopping across the large stones. It was as he got close enough to really see her that he almost slipped and fell right into the water.

She was sun-bathing on one of the stones, and something about the way she was leaning back on her hands, a smile on her face, just made his heart skip a beat. Maybe it was the way the sun was making her hair look gold instead of brown. Maybe it was the unusual way she had pinned the skirt of her dress up at her thighs so that it wouldn't get wet while she had her feet dipped in the water. Maybe it was the fact she had the smallest of the three sunflowers he accidentally grew tucked behind her ear. Maybe it was all of the above, and then some.

Regardless, all he knew was that she looked very lovely, and he had lost the ability to speak, not that he had much skill in that anyway.

In the distance, Toru could be seen skipping across the lake's surface, and the water was clear enough that he could see Tsuyu swimming around not far away. Mina was the closest, busy building up a thicket of ivy in the vague shape of a cat.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, though he suspected she knew he was there. She looked up at him over her shoulder, smiling warmly. "Hi there."

"Hi," He replied softly, hopping the last few rocks to land on the one she sat on, crouching down beside her. They were both silent for several seconds, staring out over the water, watching Toru spin around on it. Finally, Izuku looked over at her. "Did you need my help with something?"

Ochako hummed, pulling her feet out of the water and stood, stretching her arms out over her head. "Not… exactly. I want you to show me how far you've come with your magic. I'm going to test you."

Izuku blinked several times and also stood up, looking over at her. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous at her declaration. "Oh, um… okay. H-how?"

She smiled at him, a glint in her eyes, and he watched with fascination as she stepped onto the water, walking onto its surface as if it were solid. Clasping her hands behind her, she turned to face him with a wide grin. "I've been informed that you've gotten pretty good at playing tag."

He stared at her as she slowly backed out further onto the lake, that same smile on her lips as her magic kept her delicately atop the water's surface. Her comment caught up with him a moment later. "Um…w-wait, you want me to come catch you?"

Despite the distance between them, he saw her wink. "Yup! You pass as long as you can catch me. But… I'm not going to make it easy on you!"

And with that statement, her magic came to life, whipping the winds up around them as water columns erupted from the lake, circling around her protectively.

Feeling a rare grin tug at his lips, Izuku let his own magic explode around him in a whirlwind of emerald green and shadowy black as he rose to the challenge.

XX

Kyouka pursed her lips, staring down at the letters laid out before her on the small wooden table. The sounds outside of the room were distracting as the medics went about their morning, checking on their patients. They had already done a cursory evaluation of the blonde asleep in the bed beside her, but her status remained generally the same since Kyouka and Fumikage stumbled in late last night with her.

Well, she assumed Fumikage had been with her. It wasn't like she could remember, but she now had information in her hands, including a letter that she suspected he'd written while here, because it detailed what he knew about the Dragoirian mage, which wasn't much.

But all laid out together, it painted a very disturbing story.

She sighed, looking tiredly out the window at the small village just beyond the glass. She needed to get back to Heights Alliance. Denki was probably a fretful mess, and the city had more resources available to help this woman recover. Still, it was a half day's journey by horse, and with the woman generally in poor shape, it really needed to be by carriage or cart.

Pursing her lips, she looked back down at the letters, deciding to read through them once more before she tackled the dilemma of chauffeuring this mage back to the port.

Kyouka,

I will do my best to be thorough and succinct in this information. Know that what I tell you may be missing pieces, as it is only through my eyes.

First, the curse. As I mentioned, I have cursed myself, and this is why you cannot remember meeting me. Those who look away after seeing me forget I exist, however encounters before I placed the curse remain intact. This is why you remember our past, but not these recent events. I have discovered that people can pass through the fallen kingdom as long as they have a curse. The severity of the curse does not seem to matter. Cursing myself has given me the agency to walk these unhallowed grounds unharmed. The nature of my curse allows for me to get close to investigate the people hiding here, although you are the only person I have been able to successfully communicate with so far, through these letters.

Here is what I have observed:

There is a group of individuals, all cursed, lingering at the ancient reliquary. I have not seen evidence that the reliquary's seal is further damaged, nor have I seen them try to remove cursed relics. However, there is someone there who never leaves, and this person seems to be the one giving orders to the rest. He is powerful, dreadfully so, so whatever has him incapable of leaving the grounds is a terribly powerful binding spell or curse.

I have seen him take corpses and reanimate them, turning them into the Nomu attacking Yuuei. I… do not know what kind of magic he's using for this. It goes beyond necromancy, because when he animates these corpses, I can see what appears to be magic from the surrounding area imbued in them. It is twisted, and far worse than any curse I could imagine. What is worse, he has this same power over living individuals. I saw it only once, but he turned a man into the large Nomu that attacked the Royal Guard a few days ago.

I have made a list of the individuals I have seen, and the curses I have been able to recognize:

A woman archer who has the Curse of Moving. If she is in one place for too long, her body begins to decay. She can fire while moving, and her magic arrows are volatile.

A mage who can summon shadow creatures and has the Curse of Perception. Everything in his reality is distorted. This makes him dangerous and unpredictable. Be careful.

A mage who has Curse of Hunger, which means his appetite is never sated. I do not know what magic he possesses. He wears a mask and carries a cane.

A mage who has the Curse of Death. He must kill periodically, or he will die. His magic is offensive, like sharp blades, and he is aggressive.

A shadow mage who conveniently has Curse of Shadow. As long as he stays in the shadows, he is safe.

A mage with Curse of Deform. I do not know his magic, but he appears monstrous, with reptilian-like scales.

A fire mage with Curse of Command. He must obey the orders for whoever holds the Ring of Command. I have not seen the curse activate, so everything this mage has done, that I've seen, has been of his own accord.

A woman with a cursed locket that controls her mind. I do not know her magic, but I can see the possession is at war with the host.

A magus with Curse of Exile, although I do not know which place he is exiled from, nor do I know his magic. His eyes shine bright silver.

Aside from this, they speak of things I do not understand the meaning of. I have frequently heard of the word 'Core' and 'Relic' and the latter seems to not be in relation to a cursed relic from the reliquary. I have also heard them speak of things called 'Hollows', 'Creators', and an 'Echo.' They talk about them as if they are both magic and people, but I still do not yet know what it means.

Keep this information safe. Ideally, burn it or seal it once you have read it.

-Fumikage

Kyouka sighed, pushing aside the paper to look at the other letter, hastily scrawled:

The woman I have transferred into your care came running out of the reliquary in hysterics. She said they have stolen her magic. I do not know what magic she possessed, but to save her from the effects of the cursed land, I have placed a curse upon her that she can no longer use her own magic without harm to herself. If she is without magic, then this curse has no effect on her. If we are wrong, I can remove the curse with the proper ritual.

It should be noted that I also saw dozens of corpses being dragged to the reliquary. I fear, given this woman is wearing Dragoirian colors, that these bodies came from Dragoir, and are to be made into an army of Nomu. Take heed, and if you have allies we can trust, you should tell them posthaste.

-F

She stared down at the papers. Before she went to Katsuki, she needed to get this information to the Queen first, especially if those bodies came from Dragoir. However, she needed to make sure no one walked in on her delivering her message. Pursing her lips, she folded her letters up and tucked them away, deciding to take a walk outside of the village to find a safe spot to make her call.

XX

It was amazing how much he had improved in just a few short days. Even if she had been privy to some of his training and helping with it, to see where he was now was impressive. She had years of experience, schooling, and practice, and even though she was knocking him around a lot, he was still making her put in effort, and his reactions were improving by the second.

He flipped back from where a column of water shot up, landing in the air just above the lake's choppy surface. The purple glow at his feet and hands indicated which magic he was using, and she was impressed he considered applying his telekinetic magic to himself so quickly, and that he was able to apply it while focusing on breaking through her defenses.

Reaching up, he wiped at his face with a hand, getting rid of the excess water from where he had been dunked, repeatedly, in his attempts to get close to her. At some point, he had discarded his boots and his shirt, the items sitting in soggy messes on the shore. His hair clung to his face, and he puffed his cheeks in slight frustration as he considered his next moves.

Apparently, his next move was to freeze part of the lake. He slapped his hand down against the water, transforming the top layer into a thick sheet of ice between them, creating a bridge that started at him and ended wrapping around her feet. She blinked in surprise as he then propelled himself forward over that ice, using his magic to burst his speed and keep his footing.

Just as black tendrils threatened to grab her she snapped her fingers, and the ice immediately melted back into water, sending him plunging into the lake.

He came up sputtering, and with a heavy wave of her hand, she sent him floating all the way back to the shore. Izuku scowled, picking himself up out of the water, a purple glow surrounding him once again as he hovered just above the water's surface. With a pout, he swiped his hand in front of his chest, willing his magic to pull the excess water out of his trousers and off of his form. Looking up at her, he admitted, "This is much harder than I expected. There's– there's still a big gap in our magic."

She smiled patiently. "I don't think that's the issue."

He paused, giving her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

With a soft inhale, she lifted her hands up, bringing them around her almost like a dance. The world shifted with her, bringing soft breezes and subtle energy. "I have a lot of potent magic available to me, but we both know what happens if I use it carelessly." She paused, letting the wind rush over the water and pick up snowflakes in its gusts. "So to avoid hurting myself, I have to use my magic wisely."

He blinked at her, pursing his lips as he considered her words. After several seconds, he nodded slowly. "You're… right. You're not using much magic at all. Instead you're…" He scrunched his face up, trying to find a way to describe it. "Being… precise, I guess? You're … " He paused, huffing as he thought about it. "You're countering everything I do, but it's not with brute power."

She nodded, giving him another smile. "Exactly. I'm using minimal effort to manipulate things in my favor. In an extended encounter, reserving one's magic, or in my case, endurance, is crucial. You have a lot of both, but that doesn't mean you can just throw everything at me and hope to overpower me."

As if to make her point, she flicked her fingers and he felt a splash of warm magic hit his nose. He jumped slightly from the notion. "So… I need to find a way to use my magic wisely."

"Yes," Ochako said softly, eyes watching him intently. "But in a way that works for you."

"What works for me," He echoed, brows furrowing. "I– I think I have some ideas."

Ochako beamed at him. "Good! Show me."

He sucked in a breath, nodding. She watched him look around, as if considering their surroundings, and then his expression hardened. A gust of strong wind hit her, and she braced herself, using her own magic to divide the air around her neatly. Izuku was already on the move across the lake's surface, several coils of green-black energy waving behind him, ready to be used as a moment's notice.

She kept her eye on him, knowing how versatile that magic was, and that he was planning for something. She turned as he circled around her in a wide berth, his eyes trained on her. He flicked his fingers, and she had only a moment to react as a burst of air formed under the lake's surface, sending an explosion of water where she had been standing. She hopped neatly away, the spray of mist creating rainbows in the air as the sunlight hit it, raining down on her gently.

She spun in place, locking her gaze on him again as he zigzagged around her, leaving fading trails of emerald flames fluttering along the water's surface. It was clear despite his speed, he wasn't trying to close in like before, and she wondered just what he would try next.

Suddenly, she couldn't see anything but green and yellow. She sucked in a breath when the sunflower in her hair erupted into an oversized crown of blossoms, falling into her face and obscuring her vision in an array of petals and leaves. Quickly she shoved the flowers up onto her head, and her eyes widened at the blur of green and tan that collided into her. However, instead of a brutal impact, his arms circled around her and he tackled her out of the air, twisting and catching both of them in levitation, coming to a float just above the water's surface.

He looked down at her, eyes wide as he turned them both upright, and then his face broke out into an ecstatic grin. "I–I did it!"

She found a smile tugging at her lips as she watched the emotions shift from surprise to excitement to utter joy. And then… he laughed.

The sound sent a bolt of electricity right through her, and Ochako froze at realizing she had never, ever heard him laugh. He'd slowly opened up to smiling and expressions of content, but never utter joy.

It was… beautiful, and it dwarfed everything else in her mind about this training exercise, drawing her attention to everything else about him in the moment. The toothy smile on his face, and the way he was just utterly elated at his accomplishment. The gentle cradle of his arms around her waist as he kept them both suspended above the water. The feel of old scars under her fingertips, because her hands were pressed against his chest. It all made her feel light-headed. Her heart was pounding.

He looked down at her, his smile settling back into something a little more tempered. It was obvious he was still ridiculously happy, but his eyes were searching hers. It was clear he was waiting for something from her, and although logic and reason said he was waiting for feedback or insight, Ochako's heart had other ideas.

The touch of her fingers against his jaw was the only warning he got, signaled by his brows lifting, before she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. She pulled back, catching sight of Izuku's completely shocked expression…

…Right before he lost his concentration and dropped them both into the lake with a splash.

XX

Kyouka suppressed a shiver at the silence on the other side of her communication line. She had just finished explaining the letters, and how she came into their possession, including the unidentified Dragoirian mage and the corpses that were likely to be made into Nomu.

After several painfully long seconds, the Queen spoke. "The bodies are from Jaku village near the border. We have found no survivors, and the village was burned to the ground. We are in the process of putting to rest those we can."

The sound mage closed her eyes, gripping the small crystal ball tightly in her hand. "Shit."

The Queen continued, unbothered by the language her agent was using. "Whomever these people are, they're trying to turn Yuuei and Dragoir against each other, as they somehow used Todoroki fire on the village. I assume they wish to distract us from their actual goals."

"Finding the Echo?"

"Yes. They assume we have no knowledge of what they are. And while King Enji is woefully ignorant, I am fortunately not. I shall be traveling to Ultra tomorrow to speak with him."

Kyouka opened her eyes, staring down at the crystal's starry interior. "Do you think he will listen? His own son does not trust him."

"Mm," Ryouka hummed thoughtfully. "It is a risk we must take. Regardless, we both have work to do. The mage now in your care is named Melissa of House Shield. Please get her somewhere safe and ensure she is watched, so that when she awakens, we can hear from her what happened. I also need you to come to Ultra tomorrow, as the information you have from the curse mage is vital in convincing the fiery king that things are in a perilous state."

Kyouka exhaled shakily. "Understood. I shall… see you tomorrow, my Queen."

"Yes. Do be safe, Kyouka. I do not wish to see any more of my people harmed."

XX

Izuku had them out of the water in an instant, launching them both out of the lake and onto one of the rocks by the shore. The absolute panic of having dunked them both had completely paved over the shock that Ochako had kissed his cheek. Several coils of his magic were wrapped around her, holding her close, and his hands were on her shoulders. "Ochako! I'm so s-sorry! I didn't… I didn't mean to lose control!"

Much to his surprise, he heard her chuckle wryly. He blinked owlishly, staring down at her as she reached up and pushed her wet hair out of her face. Petals from the flowers he created were clinging to her cheeks and shoulders, and he realized they were also on him as well. Wiping at her face, Ochako smiled up at him apologetically. "No, that's my fault. I didn't mean…" She sighed, trying again. "I misread the moment, and I'm– I'm sorry. I… shouldn't have done that."

Izuku frowned as he listened to his favorite person apologize for something that she didn't need to apologize for. This isn't what he wanted at all! Squeezing her shoulders, he tried to get her to look up at him. "P-please don't apologize. I– you didn't do anything wrong! I was just surprised, because, well… no one's ever given me a kiss before except my mom…"

He felt ridiculous even saying it, but it was true. He watched her look at him, and he could tell she was still not convinced she hadn't messed up. He wanted to fix this! Chewing on his lip, he fretted as he watched her close off her expression, pursing her lips as she stared at his shoulder. Why were words so hard? Why was what he said not enough? Frustrated at his inability to just make it right, he did the only thing he could think of, leaning in and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Her skin was cold and wet, and he didn't care, lingering for just a moment before he pulled back to stare at her. The expression that was eating at him was finally gone from her face, replaced with shock.

Somehow, now the words came to him. "I liked it," he whispered, squeezing her shoulders. "And… I like your hugs and when you hold my hands. It makes me happy, so… please don't apologize. Please."

She blinked at him several times, and he held his breath, hoping he'd finally said the right thing. After a moment, she reached up and placed her hand over one of his, offering a tiny smile. "Okay. Thank you."

He exhaled, some of the tension leaving his body. He wasn't exactly sure where to go from here, but realizing they were both still dripping wet at least gave him something to focus on while he tried to figure it out. His magic dropped around them, inky black melting away, and with a wave of his hand, he pulled the water out of their clothes, leaving them both damp instead of drenched.

She watched him move, before her eyes found his again. Pursing her lips, as if considering something, she finally asked, "Do you want to know a secret?"

He blinked owlishly before nodding slowly. "If… if you want to tell me?"

She nodded, tugging his hand off of her shoulder so she could hold it instead. He felt her fingers curl around his, watching as she glanced off to the side, almost sheepishly. "That was actually my first kiss, too."

For some reason, the admission pulled a lopsided smile from him, but it made her respond with a chuckle that finally broke through the last of the awkwardness he felt. But before he could say anything else, a bundle of pink energy dropped between them, huffing and puffing.

"Look what you did to those flowers! I can't believe you two! Ugh!"

With an angry wave of her hands, Mina recreated the flower crown on Ochako's head, with several additions, and gave Izuku one to match. He blinked at feeling the sudden weight of many flowers on his head, vines hanging down in front of his face. The floral scent hit him moments later.

"Sorry, Mina," He offered, to which the sprite flew in front of his face and glared at him.

"I'll forgive you, but only because you have grow magic!" And with that, the spirit landed in his crown, claiming it as her nest with all the superiority she could muster. She made it very difficult to take her seriously, but Izuku did try.

Ochako's squeezed his fingers, capturing his attention once again. "Hey… let's head back? We need to get cleaned up and ready to go see your mother."

He sucked in a breath, the reminder of what was soon to happen bringing a rush of nervous energy right through him. But despite his anxiety, there was also excitement. Hope.

He was finally going to see his mom.

XX

Tomura made a thoughtful noise as he considered the new magic at his fingertips. It was a difficult magic to summon, much less control. However, after spending most of the night exploring it, he finally found the bubble form between his hands. It was small, but it was large enough to serve his purpose.

Walking slowly past the shelves and pedestals housing various artifacts and relics, he stopped before an ornate hourglass of black metal sitting on a round marble table. The sands within were a brilliant shade of violet, and most still sat in the top bulb. As he approached, the sand glowed softly, matching a faint glow that appeared on his ankles in the shape of ethereal shackles.

Red eyes narrowed, focusing on the grains of sand falling, one at a time, ever so slowly. With a sickly grin, Tomura held his hands out around the hourglass, entrapping it in the golden glow of a time bubble.

The trickle of sand increased in speed, moving forward at a rate that he found far more satisfying.

The Curse of Binding Time may have been designed to shackle him for fifty years, but with this… he could count the days.